Date: 22nd September 2026
Case No: HC (TAB) 2972/21
Court: Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar)
Venue: Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar), 2nd Floor, MCC Building, Adhikarana Mawatha, Colombo 12.
The case was taken up before the Trial-at-Bar for delivering the judgment with all accused present, except the 17th accused, who had passed away.
The 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 18th, 19th and 20th to 25th accused were represented by attorneys at law, while the others appeared in person.
The Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar) delivered the judgment in HC TAB 2972/21, in which 25 accused were indicted on 23,270 charges, following a five-year trial, and imposed rigorous imprisonment on 15 accused.
In delivering the judgment, the Court stated that the dock statements of the 1st to 11th and 15th to 19th accused were not admitted, while the dock statements of the 12th to 14th and 20th to 25th accused were admitted by the Court.
Accordingly, the 1st to 9th and 11th to 19th accused were convicted on all charges against them, including charges relating to conspiracy and aiding 2019 Easter Sunday attack, while the 10th accused was convicted on all charges except the 16th charge. The 12th to 14th and 20th to 25th accused were acquitted, as the Court held that the Prosecution had failed to prove the charges against them beyond reasonable doubt.
The counsel for the 2nd, 7th, 8th, 10th, 15th, 18th and 19th accused made submissions in mitigation of sentence, while the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th and 16th accused made submissions in person in mitigation of sentence. Thereafter, the Prosecution made submissions on the imposition of sentences on the 15 accused convicted by the Court. Counsel for the Aggrieved Party subsequently made submissions regarding the sentences to be imposed on the 15 convicted accused.
The Court imposed sentences of 220 years of rigorous imprisonment on the 1st, 9th, 10th, 16th and 18th accused; 240 years of rigorous imprisonment on the 2nd to 5th accused; 200 years of rigorous imprisonment on the 6th, 7th, 11th, 15th and 19th accused; and 260 years of rigorous imprisonment on the 8th accused. The Court ordered the confiscation of all movable and immovable properties belonging to the convicted accused.
The counsels for the 12th and 13th accused and the 20th to 25th accused submitted that the Prison Authority had informed them that letters confirming their acquittal in this case, while also mentioning the other cases against them, were required to facilitate the release of the acquitted individuals. The Prosecution informed the Court that they would provide the case numbers of the other cases against the acquitted individuals for the preparation and transmission of the relevant letters to the respective prisons as much as possible.
The Court directed that the fingerprints of the convicted accused be obtained.
Accordingly, HC TAB 2972/21, filed against 25 accused in relation to the Easter Sunday Attacks of 21st April 2019, concluded on 22nd September 2026.
Case No: HC (TAB) 2972/21
Court: Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar)
Venue: Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar), 2nd Floor, MCC Building, Adhikarana Mawatha, Colombo 12.
The case was taken up before the Trial-at-Bar for delivering the judgment with all accused present, except the 17th accused, who had passed away.
The 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 18th, 19th and 20th to 25th accused were represented by attorneys at law, while the others appeared in person.
The Special Permanent Three-Judge High Court (Trial-at-Bar) delivered the judgment in HC TAB 2972/21, in which 25 accused were indicted on 23,270 charges, following a five-year trial, and imposed rigorous imprisonment on 15 accused.
In delivering the judgment, the Court stated that the dock statements of the 1st to 11th and 15th to 19th accused were not admitted, while the dock statements of the 12th to 14th and 20th to 25th accused were admitted by the Court.
Accordingly, the 1st to 9th and 11th to 19th accused were convicted on all charges against them, including charges relating to conspiracy and aiding 2019 Easter Sunday attack, while the 10th accused was convicted on all charges except the 16th charge. The 12th to 14th and 20th to 25th accused were acquitted, as the Court held that the Prosecution had failed to prove the charges against them beyond reasonable doubt.
The counsel for the 2nd, 7th, 8th, 10th, 15th, 18th and 19th accused made submissions in mitigation of sentence, while the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th and 16th accused made submissions in person in mitigation of sentence. Thereafter, the Prosecution made submissions on the imposition of sentences on the 15 accused convicted by the Court. Counsel for the Aggrieved Party subsequently made submissions regarding the sentences to be imposed on the 15 convicted accused.
The Court imposed sentences of 220 years of rigorous imprisonment on the 1st, 9th, 10th, 16th and 18th accused; 240 years of rigorous imprisonment on the 2nd to 5th accused; 200 years of rigorous imprisonment on the 6th, 7th, 11th, 15th and 19th accused; and 260 years of rigorous imprisonment on the 8th accused. The Court ordered the confiscation of all movable and immovable properties belonging to the convicted accused.
The counsels for the 12th and 13th accused and the 20th to 25th accused submitted that the Prison Authority had informed them that letters confirming their acquittal in this case, while also mentioning the other cases against them, were required to facilitate the release of the acquitted individuals. The Prosecution informed the Court that they would provide the case numbers of the other cases against the acquitted individuals for the preparation and transmission of the relevant letters to the respective prisons as much as possible.
The Court directed that the fingerprints of the convicted accused be obtained.
Accordingly, HC TAB 2972/21, filed against 25 accused in relation to the Easter Sunday Attacks of 21st April 2019, concluded on 22nd September 2026.
